Senators9 Islanders2

KANATA, Ontario – After a spirited 2-0-1 start under Islanders new coach Bill Stewart, who could have imagined the 9-2 unmitigated disaster that occurred last night.

Welcome back to reality, Mr. Stewart.

Ziggy Palffy’s goal with 12.2 seconds left prevented this from being the Islanders’ most lopsided loss since their inaugural 1972-73 season when they lost by eight goals three times.

Instead, it was the worst margin of defeat since their 9-2 drubbing against L.A. on Nov. 16, 1995. The nine goals the Isles allowed last night – seven by Felix Potvin, two by Tommy Salo – marked the most goals they’ve given up since the 1992 Valentine’s Day Massacre – a 9-2 loss against the Rangers.

“Like I was telling you in the past, sometimes you fall in love with yourself, your mentality changes,” Stewart said. “What happened tonight was our competitiveness was not there. Our work ethic was not there. I’ll take the responsibility for not having our team ready.”

Ottawa, unbeaten against the Isles in the last 12 games (9-0-3), set its franchise record for most lopsided win and most goals scored. Ten Senators had at least two points. Alexei Yashin and Shawn McEachern each scored two goals.

Ottawa led 4-1 after one period and 7-1 after two, leading to a goalie change. The speedy Senators kept coming after the Isles in the third, building up a 9-1 bulge. Some Isles thought the Senators got a little carried away in trying to run up the score.

“What stays in your mind is how much fun they were having out there, laughing and giggling,” defenseman David Harlock said. “When they get a power play in the third and still put out their first unit, they’re rubbing salt in the wound. That’s why we’ll look forward to the two times they still come to Long Island.”

This Corel Centre slaying wasn’t all Potvin’s fault on a night the Islanders ruined all that was good the past week. But it was painful to watch Potvin tend goal in the first period. It was just one frustration after another for the recently acquired goalie who seems out of sorts since being acquired by Mike Milbury Jan. 9.

And it was disgraceful for all the Isles, playing the second game of a back-to-back that proved too much to handle after an exciting come-from-behind 4-4 tie Friday against Phoenix. They were outshot 15-1 in the opening 10 minutes – 43-22 for the game.

‘We’re going to have to figure how to get ready for that game,” said Bryan Smolinski. “They’re not big bangers. We just had to get in their way and didn’t do anything of the sort.”

A team that had played so sharply in front of Salo in the last three games played flat-out ugly and without discipline in front of Potvin, who didn’t help matters by allowing a couple of early weak goals. “I have a lot of confidence in Felix,” Stewart said. “I think he’s gone through a traumatic time with the trade. It’s the first time he’s ever been traded. But more importantly, I didn’t like the mentality of our club.”

Although he said he “felt great,” Potvin allowed three goals in the opening 6:15 and four for the period in his first start in 11 days. Potvin moved his Islander record to a disastrous 0-5 as his G.A.A. ballooned to 4.47.

Ottawa notched three power-play goals and one shorthanded – a breakaway by Radek Bonk, who made Potvin look bad again. Bonk’s goal was part of a three-score barrage in a 3:17 span late in the second period that put the Senators ahead 7-1 after two and led to Salo’s appearance.